Axonal Guidance Molecules in Mature Vascular Biology

The nervous and vascular systems of vertebrates share many similarities and often overlap in anatomy. These notions led to one of the major insights in developmental vascular biology being that the coordinated patterning of nerves and vessels is achieved by each system separately using the same cues and signals. These conserved patterning factors, together called the axonal guidance molecules, were first identified in neural development and involve four major families of conserved ligands, including netrins, slits, semaphorins, and ephrins.

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that, next to their role in development, axonal guidance molecules also play a central role in physiological and pathological in mature vascular biology and immune responses. As has been shown by their roles in various vascular (patho)physiologies, such as atherosclerosis development and progression, endothelial (blood-brain) barrier, retinopathy and tumor angiogenesis. However currently, their various roles in vascular biology are still largely unknown.

For this Research Topic, we welcome investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will aim to further unravel the role of axonal guidance molecules in the mature vascular biology. We encourage the submission of papers approaching the topic from different points of view and different levels, from both micro- and microvasculature as well as lymphatic vasculature, and from basic molecular mechanisms and cell interactions, to translational whole organ and body pathophysiology. Different approaches can extend our frontier knowledge of axonal guidance molecules in vascular biology and can contribute to future therapeutic strategies aim to preserve and improve vascular health.